Crispy Spinach Artichoke Risotto Balls

Spinach Artichoke Risotto Balls are crispy bite-sized balls of creamy risotto coated in panko crumbs and fried until golden brown and crunchy.  The perfect addition to your game day menu or as a luxurious appetizer for a romantic dinner at home!

Spinach Artichoke Risotto Balls

Confession Time:  sometimes I make risotto just to have extra so I can make these Easy Risotto Cakes.   Most people dislike leftover risotto, but not me, I embrace it.  And by embrace it, I mean I fry it.

So last week, I made this and had a ton of leftovers.  I was all ready to make my easy cakes and put an egg on it for breakfast the next morning, until Dawn at Girl Heart Food suggested I make arancini instead.

Ummm, fried little balls instead of cakes…I’M IN!!!  And just like that, these crispy spinach artichoke risotto balls were created.

The only thing is I didn’t feel like I could straight legit call my recipe arancini (Italian rice balls), since mine aren’t stuffed in the middle, but instead have the filling incorporated throughout the rice.  Not to fret though, my rice ball recipe has a ton of cheese in it (3 cups!) so the fried balls do come out all moist and cheesy inside, without the need to add the stuffed element at the center.

BTW, check out Dawn’s version here of a rice ball with the ooey, gooey, molten lava cheese center if you’re feeling a little more traditional.

I picked up a great tip in this Serious Eats article that suggests replacing the flour and egg breading steps with a flour slurry.  A slurry is a smooth mixture of a starch and a liquid typically used to thicken soups and sauces.

In this recipe, the slurry is used to form a thin wet coating of the flour mixture on the outside of the risotto ball which acts like a glue for the finely ground panko crumbs or breadcrumbs.   It worked perfectly and produced the ultimate crunchy exterior to the rice balls.

Once fried, these crispy bites have the cheesy goodness of a great risotto, the smooth tanginess of spinach artichoke dip and the light crunch of the fried panko coating.

These risotto spinach artichoke balls were delish and so different than your traditional game day eats.    Best served right from the fryer but they actually hold up really well and are still pretty darn good as they cool down.

Want to re-crisp them?  Just reheat in the oven and they’re as good as new!

The bites are so delicious on their own but they also pair nicely with lots of different sauces.  I served them with some leftover spicy salsa verde and with a marinara sauce.  They would be wonderful with a traditional tomato based salsa as well.

So go make some spinach artichoke risotto for dinner tonight and use the leftovers for these crispy, downright yummy risotto spinach artichoke balls!

Crispy and Creamy Spinach Artichoke Risotto Balls

Spinach Artichoke Risotto Balls are crispy bite-sized bites of creamy risotto coated in panko crumbs and fried until golden brown and crunchy. The perfect addition to your game day menu or as a luxurious appetizer for a romantic dinner at home!

5 from 4 votes

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Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Calories: 1450kcal

Author: Karrie | Tasty Ever After

Ingredients

• 2 cups leftover Spinach Artichoke Risotto , chilled
• 2 cups finely ground panko crumbs or breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• Neutral oil for frying , vegetable or canola

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Put the panko or breadcrumbs in a bowl and set aside.   In another bowl, make the slurry by whisking together 1/4 cup of the water and the 1/4 cup of flour into a smooth paste. Whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup of water.
• Take a couple of tablespoons of risotto and shape into a round ball. Gently roll the risotto ball in the flour slurry, then roll it in the breadcrumbs until all sides are coated.
• Place the breaded balls on a plate and repeat the process with the remaining risotto. Place the risotto balls in the refrigerator while the oil heats up.
• Place 3-4 inches of oil in a medium sized heavy bottomed saucepan and heat to 350F degrees.  Set up a cooling rack over a baking sheet or use a paper lined plate and place next to the oil.
  
• Remove the risotto balls from the refrigerator. Using a slotted spoon, lower each one into the hot oil (3 or 4 at a time) and fry for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Place on rack or paper towels to drain.
• Serve immediately plain or with your favorite sauce.
  

Recipe Notes & Tips:

Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.  Can reheat in a 350F degrees oven.

Nutrition Facts

Crispy and Creamy Spinach Artichoke Risotto Balls

Amount Per Serving

Calories 1450 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Sodium 1588mg66%

Potassium 520mg15%

Carbohydrates 286g95%

Fiber 10g40%

Sugar 13g14%

Protein 40g80%

Calcium 395mg40%

Iron 17.3mg96%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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